Traditional - Japanese Cultural Experiences - Tea

• IMPERIAL HOTEL - TOKYO

  Tel: +81 (0)3-3504-1111 (switchboard)
  Address: 4F, Main Bldg., 1-1-1, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
  Access: Near Hibiya Station on Subway Hibiya, Chiyoda or Toei Mita Line
  Hours: 10:00-16:00
  Closed: Sundays, national holidays and 1-15 August.
  Price: ¥1,500
  Time required: approx. 20 min.
  Note: Prior reservation is necessary. Served in a tatami-mat room.
  Website: Imperial Hotel –Toko-an
  

• HOTEL OKURA - TOKYO

  Tel: +81 (0)3-3582-0111 (switchboard)
  Address: Main Bldg. 7F, 2-10-4, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
  Access: Near Toranomon Station on Ginza Subway Line; Kamiyacho Station on Hibiya Subway Line; or Roppongi-itchome Station on Namboku Subway Line.
  Hours: 11:00-16:00
  Closed: Sundays and national holidays
  Price: ¥1,050 (cards accepted)
  Time required: approx. 30 min.
  
  Note: Prior reservation is necessary. Served either in a tatami-mat room or on chairs.
  Website: Hotel Okura - Chosho-an
  
  

• HOTEL NEW OTANI - TOKYO

  Tel: +81 (0)3-3265-1111 (switchboard)
  Address: 7F, Tower, 4-1, Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
  Access: Near Akasaka-mitsuke Station on Ginza and Marunouchi Subway Lines, or Nagatacho Station on Yurakucho and Hanzomon Subway Lines.
  Hours: 11:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday)
  Price: ¥ 1,050 (cash only)
  Time required: approx. 15-20 min.
  Note: Better to make an appointment. Reservation is required for a group of over 7 persons. Served in a tatami-mat room.
  Website: Hotel New Otani - Seisei-san 
  

• CHADO KAIKAN - TOKYO

  Tel: +81 (0)3-3361-2446 (switchboard)
  Address: Chado Kaikan, 3-39-17, Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
  Access: 10 min. walk from Takadanobaba Station on JR Yamanote Line, Seibu-Shinjuku Line and Subway Tozai Line or take a bus bound for "Otakibashi-Shako" to Takadanobaba 4-chome Bus Stop.
  Hours: [1] 11:30, [2] 14:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
  Closed: Monday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and national holidays.
  Price: ¥2,000
  Time required: approx. 1 hour
  Note: Prior reservation is necessary. For more details, please inquire by phone.
  Website: Chado Kaikan
  
  

• HAPPOEN - TOKYO

  Tel: +81 (0)3-3443-3775
  Address: 1-1-6, Shiroganedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
  Access: 15 min. walk from Meguro Station on JR Yamanote Line, Namboku and Mita Subway Lines.
  Hours: 11:00-16:00 daily; Obon Period: (14-17 August) 11:00-13:00.
  Closed: Year-end and New Year Holidays
  Price: Tea ceremony: ¥ 2,100 (Ryurei), ¥ 3,150 (Hiroma) and ¥ 5,000 (Koma) 30 mins. Just tea and sweets served: ¥ 840, 15mins.
  Note: Reservation is required at least 3 days in advance. Tea is served to the seated guests either on tatami mats or on chairs (Ryurei).
  
  Website: Happoen – Muan 
  
  

• NISHIJIN TONDAYA - KYOTO

  Tel: +81 (0)75-432-6701. Book online
  Address: Ichijo-agaru, Omiya, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8226.
  Access: Approx.15mins by taxi from JR Kyoto Station; or approx. 3mins walk from Ichijo Modoribashi bus stop; or approx. 3mins walk from Imadegawa Omiya bus stop.
  Hours: 10:00-16:30. Closed on the New Year's holidays 31 December – 1 January.
  Price: From ¥3,150 including a tour of the historic Tondaya Machiya Townhouse and tea ceremony.
  Time required: 45mins.
  Note: It's also possible to experience wearing a kimono and traditional Japanese lunches are also offered at Tondaya.
  
  Website: Nishijin Tondaya
  
  

• CASUAL CAFES TO TRY JAPANESE TEA IN KYOTO

  Toraya Karyo Kyoto Shop

    Renowned as a purveyor of Japanese confections to the imperial household for centuries, Toraya's cafe is close to the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Here you can appreciate a variety of beautifully crafted seasonal namagashi (traditional Japanese-style confections) served with green tea.
  Open: 10:00-18:00 March – November; 10:00 – 17:30 December - February; closed 29 December through 1 January.
  Address: Karasuma-nishi-iru, Ichijo-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto.  Tel: +81 (0)75-441-3113
  
  
  

  Ippodo Tea Room Kaboku

  Here you can choose from a variety of tea leaves including sencha (most common type of leaf tea), gyokuro (top-grade leaf tea), hojicha (brown roasted tea), and other types. It is then freshly prepared for you to enjoy  with traditional Japanese confections.
  Open: Daily 11:00-17:00.
  Address: Teramachi-dori Nijo-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto. Tel: +81 (0)75-211-3421.